Product Description
Sodium Amide, also referred to as sodium ammonia, is a white to olive-green crystalline powder characterized by an ammonia-like odor. Its chemical formula is NaNH₂, and it has a molecular weight of 39.01. Sodium Amide has a melting point of 210°C and a boiling point of 400°C. When heated to approximately 500–600°C, it decomposes to form sodium, nitrogen, and hydrogen. It reacts strongly with water, generating sodium hydroxide while releasing ammonia gas. Sodium Amide is slightly soluble in liquid ammonia and reacts slowly with alcohols.
Because Sodium Amide readily absorbs moisture and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, it must be kept in tightly sealed containers during storage. In the molten state, it is capable of dissolving certain metals, including magnesium, zinc, molybdenum, and tungsten, as well as substances such as quartz, glass, and silicates. Structurally, Sodium Amide is an ionic compound containing the amide ion NH₂⁻, which is produced when a hydrogen atom is removed from an ammonia molecule and the resulting amide ion combines with sodium ions.
Sodium Amide is a flammable, explosive, corrosive, and hygroscopic substance. The lone electron pair associated with the amino group gives it a strong ability to accept protons, resulting in vigorous hydrolysis when it comes into contact with water. This reaction produces an alkaline solution according to the following equation: NaNH₂ + H₂O → NaOH + NH₃. Sodium Amide is soluble in liquid ammonia and hot ethanol. Its dust is toxic and may cause significant irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Direct exposure can also lead to corrosive burns.
In the field of organic synthesis, Sodium Amide has a wide range of applications. It can be used as an aminating agent, condensation accelerator, dehydrating agent, dehalogenating agent, alkylating agent, and polymerization initiator. In addition, it serves as an important raw material for manufacturing various chemicals, including hydrazine, sodium cyanide, azides, cyanides, and indigo.
Sodium Amide is readily oxidized upon exposure to air, resulting in the formation of a yellow oxidation layer on its surface. Certain oxidation products may possess explosive properties and can be initiated by friction or heat. When heated under vacuum at 300–330°C, Sodium Amide decomposes into nitrogen, sodium, hydrogen, and ammonia. For this reason, it should be stored in tightly sealed containers under an inert atmosphere and kept away from air, moisture, and potential ignition sources.
On an industrial scale, Sodium Amide is manufactured by allowing molten sodium to react with gaseous ammonia at temperatures ranging from 300–400°C. For laboratory use, it may be prepared by reacting sodium with liquid ammonia at room temperature in the presence of a catalyst. Sodium Amide can also undergo a reaction with carbon monoxide to form sodium cyanide, an important intermediate widely used in chemical manufacturing.
Product Parameters
| Melting point | 210 °C (lit.) |
| Boiling point | 400 °C (lit.) |
| density | 1.39 g/cm3 (25℃) |
| Fp | 85 °F |
| storage temp. | Store below +30°C. |
| solubility | reacts with H2O |
| form | crystalline |
| color | Greyish white powder |
| Odor | Ammonia like |
| Water Solubility | REACTS VERY VIOLENTLY, EVEN EXPLOSIVELY |
| Sensitive | Air & Moisture Sensitive |
| Merck | 148576 |
| Stability: | Stability Flammable. Reacts violently with water producing very toxic fumes. In case of fire do not use water, but instead smother with soda ash. May form explosive peroxides if heated, or if stored for extended periods in contact with air or oxygen. Incompatible with water and aqueous solutions, carbon dioxide, halogenated hydrocarbo |
| CAS DataBase Reference | 7782-92-5(CAS DataBase Reference) |
| EPA Substance Registry System | Sodium amide (Na(NH2)) (7782-92-5) |
| Hazard Codes | F,C,Xi,N |
| Risk Statements | 14/15-19-34-20/21-10-67-65-63-48/20-11-36/37-15/29-14-50-29 |
| Safety Statements | 26-43-45-62-7/8-43D-36/37/39-27-16-61 |
| RIDADR | UN 3129 4.3/PG 2 |
| WGK Germany | 2 |
| F | 37917 |
| Autoignition Temperature | 450 °C |
| TSCA | Yes |
| HS Code | 2853 90 90 |
| HazardClass | 4.3 |
| PackingGroup | II |
| Hazardous Substances Data | 7782-92-5(Hazardous Substances Data) |
Application Scenarios
Sodium Amide is used as a condensation accelerator in various organic chemical reactions and is an important raw material in the synthesis of vitamin A. It also has broad applications as a dehydrating agent, dehalogenating agent, alkylating agent, and aminating agent in organic synthesis.
When dissolved in liquid ammonia, Sodium Amide can dissociate NH₄⁺ ions and function as an initiator for the anionic polymerization of polyvinyl chloride. Furthermore, it is widely employed in organic synthesis and pharmaceutical manufacturing as a starting material or intermediate for the preparation of azide compounds, cyanides, indigo, hydrazine, and other valuable chemical intermediates.
